Currently streaming on Prime Video is the movie The Calendar Killer (Der Heimweg in German). Directed by Adolfo Kolmerer, the movie has a run time of 1 hour 34 minutes and is rated 16+.
“HIM OR YOU – ONE WILL DIE. 12/6” is written on a wall in red-blood paint. That’s the signature of a serial killer that the public is calling the Calendar Killer. He gives his victims the date he’ll kill them, and when that date arrives, he keeps to his promise.
The movie is set in Berlin and is based on a best-selling German thriller by Sebastian Fitzek.
The Premise
Luise Heyer stars as Klara Vernet, a woman who has been marked by the Calendar Killer.
She wakes up disillusioned and when she looks at the wall in the room she is in, it has a picture of her and her husband, Martin.
The writing on the wall is the signature of the Calendar Killer, telling her when she will die and asking her to choose between taking the life of her husband or losing her life to the Calendar Killer.
At the start of the movie, we meet Jules Tannberg, played by Sabin Tambrea. Jules works for the “Walk Me Home Helpline,” which is a number members of the public call when they are scared to walk home alone between 8pm-2am.
Jules job is to provide advice, offer them assurances and help if needed.
The Night of December 6
When we meet Jules, he appears to be working from his home around the holiday season. Occasionally, he takes breaks to check on a little girl who is sleeping in a nearby room. Jules later confirms that he has a daughter named Fabienne who is six years old.
While working, Jules receives multiple phone calls from his dad, which he ignores a couple of times.
He also receives calls from people who need help including a call from a woman who did not feel safe while walking home. He assists her in deescalating a potentially troubling situation.
When Jules gets a call from Klara, she doesn’t immediately identify herself. There is initially just heavy breathing on the phone, and it appears to be from someone who is terrified of something or someone.
Jules presses the caller to identify themselves and eventually Klara says “It’s too late. I’m going to be murdered tonight.” She tells Jules that she has been marked by the calendar killer to be killed on the 6th of December, and she has only a few hours left.
Klara also shares with Jules, that she is currently in a physically and emotionally abusive relationship with Martin and that she stays because of her daughter Amelie, who is six years old.
Martin, played by Friedrich Mucke is an influential man. He is the secretary of state/interior.
The movie effectively uses flashbacks as Klara tells the story of Martin’s abuse, providing crucial context to help viewers understand that he is controlling. For instance, Martin tells Klara how to dress.
Additionally, he forces her to eat what he selects and even takes her to an S&M club, where he drugs her. Furthermore, he gets his rocks off while others beat her.
To complicate matters, Klara has a history of dissociative disorder, which means she often sees things that do not exist. Klara explains to Jules that because of this disorder, neither the police nor Martin believe her when she says she is marked by the Calendar Killer.
The call takes a turn when it becomes apparent that Klara is taking steps to hurt herself.
In the middle of the call Martin’s dad calls again, this time he picks up and we learn that Jules used to work the emergency switchboard and is on leave.
We also learn something tragic previously happened to someone named Dajana and it is a sensitive topic for Jules.
The rest of the movie focuses on Klara’s race against time to avoid being found by both the Calendar Killer and her interactions with her husband Martin.
What I Liked About the Calendar Killer
I liked the intro to the movie. The whole “Knowing the date of your death, means you already have started dying” quote from the movie definitely caught my attention to keep watching.
They did a good job highlighting the struggles of domestic violence especially when a young child or children are involved, and when there is a power imbalance amongst the couple.
What I Didn’t Like
First, the movie was too predictable. The way they lingered on crucial clues made it obvious very quickly that a twist was coming.
Unfortunately, I was able to guess quite early where the twist would originate, which took away some of the suspense for me, and I didn’t enjoy that.
Additionally, while the movie had all the ingredients to be great, it ultimately fell short of delivering on its potential.
Finally, there was a scene involving a nosebleed that left me puzzled. I kept wondering why that scene was included at all. Moreover, what was the significance of the nosebleed? Overall, it felt out of place and unresolved.
Favorite Quotes from The Movie
- Hell’s dirtiest trick is disguising itself as paradise – Klara Vernet
- HIM OR YOU – ONE WILL DIE. 12/6 – The Calendar Killer
How Would I Rate the Movie
I would rate it 2.5 out of 5.
Movie Details
Rating: 16+
Director: Adolfo Kolmerer
Release Date: January 16, 2025
Casts:
Sabin Tambrea as Jules Tannberg
Luise Heyer as Klara Vernet
Andreas Döhler as Hendrik
Benjamin Hartwig as a firefighter
Dennenesch Zoudé as Meret
Friedrich Mücke as Martin
Isabel Thierauch as Lousanne
Kristin Suckow as Dajana
Rainer Bock as HC
Romy Miesner as Amelie
Sasha Marini as Paul Wassmann
Shadi Eck as Vigo
Tobias M Giesecke as Masked Man
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